This exhibition roused from Christy’s portrait sculpture of ‘Olaudah Equiano – African, slave, author, abolitionist’ that she made in 2007 at the time of the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act with the intent to further share his story. Selected by Janette Parris for Deptford X Arts Festival ‘Deptford Conversations’ Fringe, it will be shown with additional exciting new works in various materials for black history month.
A private viewing open to the public will be on Friday 2 October 7.30-9.30pm followed by an exhibition til 30 October 2015. Joined by Pastor Sasha of Temple International Ministeries at about 8.15pm.
The life-size portrait sculpture provokes enquiry into who Equiano was and what he did. His social standing, reflected through his clothing and hairstyle, was unusual for a black man in that period. The shape of Africa forms the back of his shoulders and broken shackles and chains are sculpted on the stem of the sculpture, prompting his opposition to slavery.
Olaudah Equiano [1745-1797] was instrumental in bringing about the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in Britain of 1807. Attention has been under awarded to him in Western historical representation of the slave trade though he was an outspoken opponent, first through many letters to newspapers and later in his ‘best-seller’ book of the time, The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Equiano was enslaved at the age of 11 and eventually bought his freedom 20 years later in 1776. Through his book published in 1789, he brought to light the horrendous conditions on slave ships and appalling injustices of the slave trade. It is said to be the best known written account of the life of a slave.
Christy hopes to encourage empowerment through learning of ancestral achievements and social improvement by bringing to the fore Equiano’s life story.
For more information about Deptford X 2015 visit